Ross board President Steve Korbel steps down to assist with wife's judicial campaign
Ross Township Commissioner Steve Korbel, who serves as the board’s president, has resigned so he can spend more time working on his wife’s campaign for judge.
“I cannot thank the residents of Ward 2 enough for putting your trust in me for the last seven years,” Korbel wrote in a post on social media. “It truly was the honor of my life to represent you and all of Ross Township.”
Korbel, who has served on the board since 2014, formally announced his resignation at the Jan. 4 board meeting.
The board is accepting applications from residents in Ward 2 to fill the remainder of Korbel’s term, which runs through 2022.
Applications and details about the position available on the township’s website. The applications must be received by noon on Jan. 15. Applicants should be available for a virtual interview during the Jan. 19 commissioners meeting. The board is expected to fill the vacancy at its meeting on Feb. 1.
The board also voted to appoint Commissioner Dan DeMarco as its new president and Commissioner Sarah Poweska as the vice president.
Korbel’s wife, Sabrina Korbel, is an attorney who focuses on representing victims of domestic violence. She has supervised the Women’s Center and Shelter Civil Law Project since its creation in 2001.
Steve Korbel, who also is a lawyer, specializes in municipal government and serves as the solicitor for communities including Aspinwall, Forest Hills and McCandless.
He said his decision to step down from the board “was made easier due to the quality of the people serving as commissioner in the other wards and their dedication to our community.
“We have a great group of community-oriented public servants on the board,” he wrote.
Korbel said some of the initiatives he is most proud of while serving on the board include:
• Creation of an equal opportunity ordinance that protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Stricter rules designed to preserve the township’s green space and tree canopy.
• An ethics law that prohibits local and elected officials from conducting business with the township.
• Major investments in the parks and other infrastructure.
• Expanding the tax base by approving major commercial projects such as the redevelopment of the former Northway Mall into The Block Northway.
Tony LaRussa is a TribLive reporter. A Pittsburgh native, he covers crime and courts in the Alle-Kiski Valley. He can be reached at tlarussa@triblive.com.
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